The first record of land purchased in the area that became Armada Township was made by John Proctor in 1825.

The village began to prosper when residents improved the old Indian trail for use as a roadway in the early 1830s.

Burke's Corners was briefly renamed "Honeoye", for the New York hometown of several newly arrived migrants.

When the village was finally incorporated in the late 1860s, it was officially named "Armada", the same as the township.

At that time, children were bused into town to attend the schools of the consolidated district.

Armada's interest in education was demonstrated in the early 20th century by their applying to the Carnegie Foundation for matching funds in order to build and operate a public library.

Passengers and freight were processed through the two-door depot at the foot of Church Street.

A cartage company delivered the freight to uptown businesses by horse and wagon.

In 2014, the village was shut down due to an investigation by Michigan State Police and the FBI of the murder of 14-year-old April Millsap, who was walking her dog on the Macomb Orchard Trail.

In 2016 a jury found the 34-year-old defendant, James VanCallis, a man from St. Clair County, to be guilty of four counts associated with the murder.

In a July 2019 Reader's Digest vote, Armada was selected as the "Nicest Place in Michigan".

[2] The East Branch of Coon Creek passes through the center of the village, part of the Clinton River watershed flowing to Lake St. Clair.

[12] A Halloween festival, Armada-geddon, is held in the village each year on the second Saturday in October.

The event includes a 5k-walk, run and shamble; a street fair with craft vendors and food; games and activities for children; and, in the evening, a lighted Halloween Parade.